Core Generation Features: The Foundation
Text-to-Video Generation
The most fundamental capability—converting text prompts into video. However, implementation quality varies dramatically across platforms.
| Platform | Max Duration | Resolution | Key Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sora | 60s | 1920×1080 | Physics simulation, temporal consistency |
| Runway Gen-3 | 10s (extend to 40s) | 1920×1080 | Speed, fine-grained control |
| Pika | 3-5s | 1280×720 to 1080p | Fast iteration, scene editing |
| Synthesia | Unlimited | 1920×1080 | Avatar quality, multilingual |
Image-to-Video Conversion
Animating still images enables precise control over subject matter and composition before adding motion.
🎬 Runway
- Motion Brush: Paint motion paths directly on image
- Camera Control: Define zoom, pan, rotate
- Motion Strength: Adjustable 0-100% intensity
- Use Case: Precise animation of product shots, character images
⚡ Pika
- Scene Editing: Modify specific elements post-generation
- Extend Canvas: Expand frame beyond original borders
- Motion Parameters: Simple horizontal/vertical/zoom
- Use Case: Quick social media content animation
Advanced Control Features
Camera Movement Controls
Professional video requires precise camera control. Platform capabilities vary from simple presets to cinematic-grade movement.
Camera Control Comparison
🏆 Sora: Cinematic Camera Simulation
Natural language camera direction: "tracking shot", "drone flyover", "handheld POV", "dolly zoom"
Advantage: Understands cinematic terminology, realistic camera physics
🎥 Runway: Parametric Control
Slider controls: Pan (-100 to +100), Tilt, Zoom, Roll, Horizontal/Vertical motion
Advantage: Precise numerical control, repeatable movements
⚡ Pika: Simple Presets
Basic options: Zoom in/out, Pan left/right, No movement
Advantage: Fast selection, minimal learning curve
Style and Aesthetic Controls
Style control enables consistent brand aesthetics and creative expression across generated content.
| Feature | Sora | Runway | Pika | Kaiber |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Style Presets | Text-based | Limited | 10+ presets | 100+ styles |
| Custom Styles | Via prompts | Reference images | Limited | Upload artwork |
| Audio Sync | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ Reactive |
| Color Grading | Prompt-based | Post-process | Limited | Style-based |
Editing and Post-Generation Features
In-Platform Editing Capabilities
🎨 Runway: Comprehensive Editor
Generation Tools:
- Inpainting/Outpainting
- Frame interpolation
- Super slow-motion
- Background removal
Enhancement:
- Upscaling to 4K
- Color correction
- Noise reduction
- Stabilization
✂️ Pika: Scene-Level Editing
- Modify Region: Select and regenerate specific areas
- Expand Canvas: Extend video beyond original frame
- Lip Sync: Match generated speech to avatar mouths
- Sound Effects: AI-generated audio to match visuals
🎤 Synthesia: Avatar Editing
- Script Editor: Timeline-based text editing
- Multi-Scene: Combine multiple scenes/avatars
- Templates: Pre-built layouts with branding
- Collaboration: Team review and approval workflows
Enterprise and Workflow Features
Professional workflows require features beyond generation quality: collaboration, version control, integrations, and compliance.
| Feature Category | Synthesia | Runway | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team Collaboration | ✅ Full workspace | ✅ Shared projects | Limited |
| Version Control | ✅ Auto-save | ✅ History | ❌ |
| API Access | ✅ Enterprise | ✅ All tiers | Varies |
| SSO/SAML | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Compliance (SOC 2) | ✅ Certified | ✅ Certified | ❌ |
Feature Selection Framework
Selecting the right platform requires matching features to your specific use case and workflow requirements.
Use Case → Platform Matching
📽️ Film/TV Production
Priority: Camera control, temporal consistency, resolution, cinematic motion
Recommended: Sora (quality) or Runway (speed + control balance)
📱 Social Media Content
Priority: Speed, style variety, scene editing, vertical format support
Recommended: Pika (speed) or Kaiber (creative styles)
🎓 Enterprise Training
Priority: Avatar quality, multilingual, collaboration tools, compliance
Recommended: Synthesia or HeyGen
🎵 Music Videos
Priority: Audio reactivity, artistic styles, creative effects
Recommended: Kaiber (music-first) or Runway (post-production)
Key Takeaways
- Core features (text/image-to-video) now standard; differentiation in advanced controls
- Camera control sophistication varies: Sora (natural language) vs Runway (parametric) vs Pika (presets)
- Style customization ranges from prompt-based (Sora) to 100+ presets (Kaiber)
- Editing capabilities critical for workflow efficiency: Runway most comprehensive
- Enterprise features (collaboration, API, compliance) essential for business deployment
- Match platform features to specific use case requirements vs chasing feature lists
This article is part of our AI Video Platform Analysis series, focusing on Feature Analysis.